Politics
Healey pledges fiscal discipline and apprenticeships in first conference speech as chancellor
September 28, 2026 at 02:31 PM
Coverage
4 reports · over 1 hour
TGThe Guardian
Healey offers upbeat vision but sheds little light on how it will be paid for
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Best thing we can offer young people is a job, not benefits, says chancellor
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Faslane dry docks and research ship to be built in UK, says chancellor
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Healey vows to stick to fiscal rules in budget built on hope
(opens the publisher’s site)John Healey, in his first conference speech as chancellor, has pledged fiscal discipline while promising a reindustrialised Britain with new jobs for young people.
- Healey delivered his first speech as chancellor to Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, announcing an expanded Local Apprenticeships Service for all English mayors.
- He pledged to hold to the government's fiscal rules, warning that "the money New Labour had in the 90s is simply not there now."
- He called "a first job with training and a wage" the best offer to young people, describing cuts to the welfare bill as a "moral duty."
- He announced an extra £300m of Rolls-Royce investment in its British factories in Derby, Bristol, Glasgow and Rotherham.
- Healey announced £6bn of contracts for three floating dry docks to maintain the Royal Navy's submarine fleet at Faslane, built by a UK-based shipbuilder.
- He pledged £115m for a new marine research vessel that will replace the Cefas Endeavour.